Naomi Novik's stunning series of novels follow the adventures of Cpt Laurence and his dragon Temeraire as they travel from the shores of Britain to China and Africa. Laurence and Temeraire have betrayed the British. They have foiled their attempts to inflict death upon the French dragons by sharing the cure they found in Africa with their enemy. But following their conscience has a price. Laurence feels he must return to face the consequences, and as soon as they land they are taken into custody. Laurence is condemned to the gallows and Temeraire faces a life of captivity in the breeding grounds. None of their friends or allies can come to their aid, for every hand is needed elsewhere. Britain is completely unprepared for Bonaparte invasion and the advanced tactics of his own celestial dragon -- Temeraire's mortal enemy -- Lien. / Imaginative historical adventure, perfect for all fantasy adn alternative fiction fans: from Robin Hobb and Philip Pullman, to C S Forester and Ryder Haggard. / Strong new jacket look to match recently re-issued backlist / Empire of Ivory pb was a New York Times best-seller. / Peter Jackson, Director of Lord of the Rings, has bought the film and game rights for all books in the series / Competition: Pullman, Rowling, Hunt, Canavan, Hobb
Naomi Novik was born in New York in 1973, a first-generation American, and raised on Polish fairy tales, Baba Yaga, and Tolkien. She studied English Literature at Brown University and Computer Science at Columbia University before leaving to work in the games industry. Over the course of a brief winter sojourn working on a game in Canada, she realized she preferred the writing to the programming, and, on returning to New York, decided to try her hand at novels. Temeraire is her first.
Napoleon has landed! England is under siege, and it's up to the dragon Temeraire and his captain, Laurence, to stop the invading army. Unfortunately, Laurence has been convicted of treason, and Temeraire banished to the far-off Welsh breeding grounds, after their daring mission to deliver a cure for the dragon plague to the French. In this fifth volume of the Temeraire series (after His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, and Empire of Ivory) and the first to be published in hardcover, we return to England after the exotic locales of the last two books, and the action takes place more on land than at sea. Fans of military historicals like Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels will likely enjoy the detailed points of military strategy and supply-line wrangling (it takes a lot of cows to feed an army of dragons), but fantasy readers will still find their sense of wonder. Novik's latest doesn't have quite the sparkle of Empire of Ivory, but series fans will certainly be eager to find out what happens after the previous book's vertiginous cliff-hanger of an ending. Recommended for all public libraries.--Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
'These are beautifully written novels, not only fresh, original and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart.' Peter Jackson 'Novik won me over with her first novel! the combination of military history, sympathetic characters, and engaging style makes this series great, intelligent fun.' The Times 'Plenty of intrigue, swordplay, exotic locations, plausible invention. In short a treat.' The Telegraph 'In the best tradition of fantasy, historical fiction and nautical novels.' Guardian
In the thrilling fifth installment (the first in hardcover, following 2007's Empire of Ivory) of the bestselling Temeraire series, Novik returns to familiar themes of love, duty and liberty against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. When Napoleon's forces attack England, Temeraire, believing Laurence dead, decides to lead other uncaptained dragons to battle. When the two reunite, Temeraire uses his commander status to gain a voice in war counsels, demanding freedom and pay for dragons. Though the battles are impressive and the politics unsubtle but intriguing, the piece de resistance is the quiet moment when Laurence faces the mad king he betrayed. This accessible vision of an English Regency with an air force raises the stakes without straining credibility. Followers of Temeraire's travels will be richly rewarded by the satisfying conclusion of his return to home ground, but may wonder where Novik can go from here. (July) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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